The Hope Kitchen

Location: N Killingsworth and Maryland, Killingswoth Station Food Carts
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm

The Story: A little bit of Soul Food and a whole lotta love. People start food carts for different reasons: economics, creativity, and the  need to feed and nourish the world are just a few. The Hope Kitchen is all that and more. Started in response to the loss of a family member to colorectal cancer, The Hope Kitchen has a mission for the greater good:

The goal of The Hope Kitchen is to encourage a reduction in red meat consumption for a healthier heart & healthier colon.

The Hope Kitchen does not claim to be a health food or vegetarian food provider, but rather, offers a reduced-fat version of homestyle meals.

A portion of The Hope Kitchen proceeds will be donated to Steve Baker Colorectal Cancer Alliance (SBCCA), a local non-profit organization committed to winning the fight against colorectal cancer.

Education is a big part of Hope Kitchen – they partner with several health providers, schools and other institutions to show that favorite foods can be easily tweaked to be healthier and still be delicious. No need to give up your favorite down home favorites such as BBQ, chicken tenders, greens and cornbread. The Hope Kitchen also provides catering services. We love a cart with heart!

[The Hope Kitchen moved to North Portland April 2013]

Sample Menu: All meat based menu items made with fish, chicken or turkey. No meat products added to any vegetable options.

  • Tamale Pie - saucy tomato based blend of  spiced ground turkey, baked on a cornmeal crust, topped with melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. With greens and potato salad – $7.50. a la carte – $6.00
  • Pan Seared Tilapia. With greens and potato salad – $8.50
  • Sweet and Spicy Chicken Tenders – 4 pieces. With greens and potato salad – $8.00
  • Vegetarian Quinoa Salad – with greens and mushrooms – $5.00
  • BBQ Chicken Sandwich – $5.00
  • Side of vegetarian slow cooked greens, potato salad, or braised cabbage – $2.50
  • Weekly Dessert Special – prices vary – Sweet potato pie, pound cake, peach cobbler

Phone: (971) 222-4446
Website: www.thehopekitchen.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHopeKitchen

A Cajun Life

A Cajun Life

A Cajun Life

Location: 14530 SE 202nd Ave, Damascus
Hours: Fridays 11am-7pm; Sat, 10am-2pm at Gresham Farmers Market

The Story:

I grew up in deep SE Portland. We actually lived in unincorporated east Multnomah county, a mysterious rural land between Portland and Gresham. I raised pigs that usually went to “pig camp” while I was at summer camp. Food options in the area consisted of jojo’s at the local market or Subway or Dairy Queen. What I would give to have have been able to eat at A Cajun Life while a kid. It would have been childhood favorite.

A Cajun Life is the work of Chris Fontenot and his wife Hillary. Chris, a Louisiana native who ended up moving around the nation a bit before landing in Damascus, discovered the one thing he truly missed about home was the food. A common theme heard when talking with transplants to our fine town. Luckily for us, they chased this dream down and opened the cart named Roux down off HWY 212 and SE 202nd right in the heart of Damascus. It wasn’t easy. Damascus is a new city with little or no regulations regarding mobile vendors, so Clackamas County became the final arbiter. They too are new to mobile vending, so in the end, everyone has been on a learning curve trying to support this small business, get them open and keep them open.

Bayou Boogie and Crawfish Etoufee

Bayou Boogie and Crawfish étouffée

A Cajun Life’s menu features all the dishes I have fell in love with during my numerous trips to New Orleans. While everything on the menu looked simply amazing, I asked Chris for his specialty and he put together a combo of his Bayou Boogie and crawfish étouffée. Normally, this quantity of food would give me pause, but after that first bite of hot sausage and rice with a bit of chicken, I couldn’t put the fork down. The hot of the sausage was so different than what I’ve had, I couldn’t get enough. I quickly realized I had picked out most of the sausage and left everything else there. I felt like a kid separating items on the plate. The difference here was that the rest of the dish was amazing even though I had already ate the sausage. The crawfish étouffée, crawfish tails smothered in sauce, was equally flavorful and a treat. I asked Chris about a crawfish boil and he stated it may end up on the menu in the future. Mmmm, crawfish!

A Cajun Life, located in Damascus, may be a bit far for many of our readers here, but it is on the way to and from Mt. Hood and elsewhere east. Take a different route next time you’re out for a hike and drop on by. Their hours are weekend focused open on Friday at the cart and Saturday at the Gresham Farmers Market. If you’re a Timbers fan, you can check them out at Saturday, September 29th’s match against DC United. I’m happy to see mobile vendors succeeding beyond Portland but close enough to visit. Drop on by if you’re in the area and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Authentic Cajun Gumbo: chicken, sausage, Tasso served with potatoes in roux based sauce over rice – $8
  • Crawfish étouffée: crawfish tails smothered in sauce served over rice – $8
  • Bayou Boogie: chicken, sausage and Tasso gravy served over rice – $8
  • Crawfish Pistolettes: French bread stuffed with crawfish cheese sauce – $3.50 each

Hours: Thurs, 3:30-7:30, Fridays 11am-7pm; Sat, 10am-2pm
Website: ACajunLife.com
Facebook: A Cajun Life

Retrolicious

Retrolicious

Retrolicious

Location: Roaming, check their website for location
Hours: daily, 11:30-7 including weekends

The Story:

Pink flamingos flank the 60′s pink cart with the Jetson’s style logo. Retrolicious is the latest edition to Green Castle and is bringing back the classics. [Retrolicious left Green Castle in 10/2012 and is roaming and seeking a new location]

Hailing from Phoenix, Kimmy and her partner Roy, wanted to have some fun with both the cart and the menu. With fond memories of childhood favorites like mac ‘n cheese or meatloaf, the scratch made classics cart was born. Kimmy runs around the lot in a bright pink and yellow striped skirt I think I saw in a James Bond flick. The best way to engage customers – talk to them. The flamingos and the bright colored chairs and table add to the feel. A stunningly beautiful and well executed cart with a great brand.

Butter Basted Diner Burger

Butter Basted Diner Burger

Kimmy is going for big meals. The meals we enjoyed growing up before Mutual of Omaha’s Animal Kingdom. Those which put meat on our bones. The menu Saturday included Chicken and Waffles, Southern Style Mac & Cheese, Cart Cured BLT, a Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich and the Butter Basted Diner Burger I enjoyed. Not having eaten many burgers in the last year in my attempt to experience other great foods, here was my chance to re-introduce my tastebuds to a classic. Served on Texas Toast, the hand crafted burger came with the usual fixin’s and pimento cheese. PIMENTO CHEESE. Wow, a big mouthful with that toast and the cheese was spot on for this type of burger. It has the appropriate amount of salt to the meat and having been butter basted, it had that sweet cream flavor I crave. While messy, it was worth it, sitting there devouring a juicy burger on a warm sunny spring day in Portland.

Retrolicious is hard to miss. One of the largest carts to grace our scene and painted bright pink. Kimmy and Dan are welcoming and want you to remember childhood through food. The menu is on a chalkboard, so it may change daily. Be prepared to experience what they have to offer. Drop on down to Green Castle and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Chicken & Waffles  – $5 or double for $7
  • Butter Basted Diner Burger – choice of cheese – $6
  • Southern Style Mac & Cheese – $5
  • Cart Cured BLT – a classic – $7
  • Hone Mustard Chicken Sandwich – $6

Hours: daily, 11:30-7 including weekends
Phone:
503-539-3808
Website: EatRetrolicious.com
Twitter: @EatRetrolicious
Facebook: EatRetrolicious

Miss Kate’s Southern Kitchen

Miss Kate's Southern Kitchen

Miss Kate's Southern Kitchen

Location: N Mississippi and Skidmore, Mississippi Marketplace
Hours: Weds/Thurs: 10am-5pm; Fri/Sat, 10am-8 pm; Sunday, 10am-6pm

The Story:

Miss Kate, Charles’ grandmother, was from Vicksburg, Mississippi and Charles, the owner of the newest cart in Mississippi Marketplace is bringing the tastes of Mississippi to the street.

When Kate passed, Charles’ took control of the hundreds of recipes that Miss Kate had collected over the years from her time with the ladies at bridge and garden clubs. They would sit around and simply write down their favorites on the bridge pads, so some of the recipes don’t have titles. Charles takes the recipe and puts the ingredients together without truly knowing what the outcome will be. These are true southern dishes made by a descendant of the founders of Vicksburg. Charles loves to cook and it was at the cajoling for friends that he opened the cart. He also loves to tell stories – did you know the first bottle of Coke was made in Vicksburg by the Biedenharn Candy Company in 1894?

At Miss Kate’s Southern Kitchen, you can discover some amazing southern dishes like coleslaw, mac and cheese, succotash, chicken salad, meatloaf, turkey, pork roast, biscuits and gravy and their awesome pimento cheese. They also have southern fried chicken with biscuits which is what I enjoyed that opening week. I didn’t grow up with crispy homemade fried chicken, so as an adult, I’ve been seeking it out whenever I can. With just salt, pepper and flour, Charles creates an amazing crust that keeps the meat juicy and savory. The biscuits that come with the meal are something special. Sweet cream butter was a dominant taste in the biscuit, but the secret is actually a brown sugar/butter glaze that creates the sweetness I so loved. I’m excited to have Mississippi food now on Mississippi boulevard in my neighborhood.

Fried Chicken from Miss Kate's

Fried Chicken from Miss Kate's

Charles and his cart Miss Kate’s Southern Kitchen are open Tuesday through Saturday for the morning hours through the afternoon. You can enjoy some biscuits and gravy or grab a full meal. Charles has an extensive menu, so you can try all that he has to offer. I’m looking forward to some southern succotash. Drop on by this brand new cart and welcome them to the neighborhood and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Biloxi Biscits (Savory Biscuit)

  • Biscuit and Bacon Gravy – $3
  • Biscuits with Pimiento Cheese – $2.50
  • Biscuit with Maple Syrup and Butter – $1.50
  • Breakfast Biscuit with ham, bacon, or sausage – $3
  • Biscuit Sandwich with choice of meat and egg and cheese with port beer cheese sauce – $4
  • Vicksburg Beignet – 2 for $1.50, 6 for $4; Baker’s Dozen – $7.50

Sandwiches:

  • Papaw’s Turkey Sandwich – turkey grilled in gravy, whole cranberry jam, onion cream cheese, greens, tomato, on grilled Italian white bread – $7.50
  • Aunt Pat’s Ham Sandwich – country baked ham, pimento cheese, dill mayo, greens, tomato on grilled swirled white and rye – $7.50
  • Mamaw’s Chicken Salad – rosemary chicken, cranberries, pecans, greens, tomato, Creole mayo, on grilled Italian white – $7.50

Other:

  • Vicksburg Southern Fried Chicken – crispy fried chicken with a little kick – 2 pieces and served with cornbread or biscuit – $6
  • Creole Beans and Rice with Cornbread – $5

Hours: Weds/Thurs: 10am-5pm; Fri/Sat, 10am-8 pm; Sunday, 10am-6pm
Phone: 503 724 7878
Facebook: Miss Kate’s Southern Kitchen

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Touchdown’s BBQ

Touchdown's BBQ

Touchdown's BBQ

Location: SW 10th and Washington
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm; Sat, 12pm-4pm

The Story:

In downtown Portland, it’s not too hard to find a BBQ food cart. But at Touchdown’s (which also caters, by the way), you’ll also get some warm Southern hospitality from Sandra, one of the cart owners. With family roots tracing back to Little Rock, Arkansas, she was born in Chicago and then lived in Texas before settling in Portland. BBQ must be either in the genes or picked up along the way. The cart, which has been open for nine months, started from a family passion for cooking. Gotta love those “soul food” origins; it’s all about love and food uniting as one.

Tourchdown's BBQ

Tourchdown's BBQ

I saw a small line (perhaps 4-5 people) had formed in front of the cart. A poster board with pictures of virtually every entrée and side dish caught my eye. Mmm…BBQ. Touchdown’s had a special going the day I went: a pulled pork sandwich on  a toasted bun with cole slaw and baked beans for $7.95. The pork was juicy, flavorful, and wanted to melt on my tongue. Touchdown’s toasts the buns, so a lovely slight crunch comes with each bite. The fresh, crunchy cole slaw has some sweet connotations and is a classic pairing with the pork. The warm baked beans had a nice consistency, a good second side dish to get.

Try any of Touchdown’s other sides as well: potato salad, collard greens, mac and cheese, yams, cornbread, and garlic bread. If you’re unsure, just ask Sandra for a sample, she loves giving out samples. A cart I’d definitely go back to. Check them out! Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Quarterback Special: Smoke or Hot Link Topped with Cheese, BBQ pulled pork w/cole slaw ($8.95); combo w/two sides ($10.95)
  • 1st and 10: BBQ Ribs w/garlic bread ($8.95); combo w/two sides and garlic bread ($10.95)
  • Out of Bounds: BBQ Pulled Pork or Chicken Sandwich w/cole slaw ($7.95); combo w/two sides ($10.95)
  • Huddle: BBQ Chicken w/garlic bread ($8.95); combo w/two sides and garlic bread ($10.95)
  • Blitz: Grilled Smoked or Hot Link with all the trimmings ($6.95); combo w/two sides ($8.95)
  • Super Bowl Sides: potato salad, cole slaw, greens, mac and cheese, baked beans, yams, cornbread, or garlic bread
  • Starting Lineup: Soda ($1); water ($1)

Hours: Mon-Fri, 11 am to 5 pm; Sat, 12 pm to 4 pm
Phone:
971 217 1193
Email:
jtstate@hotmail.com

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